What is Amber?

Technically, Amber is not a Gemstone, although because it is so sought after for jewellery making it is refered to in the same breath as diamonds, opals, sapphires etc.

Amber is actually fossilised tree resin which is anywhere between 30 and 90 million years old.

amber with prehistoric insects

Apart from a warm honey coloured see-through structure and the ability to be polished to a high shine, what makes amber extra special is that many pieces contain the bodies of trapped insects that were caught in the ancient sap and preserved for all eternity. When we look at a perfectly preserved insect in amber we are often looking directly back to the time of the dinosaurs.

Amber comes from deposits around the Baltic area of Northern Europe and has been a popular adornment since at least the bronze age.